Ex-Bob Bashara attorney admits to contempt of court

David Griem speaks to media after the arraignment of Bob Bashara on solicitation of murder charges June 27, 2012.Gus Burns | MLive Detroit

DETROIT — Bob Bashara of Grosse Pointe Park pleaded guilty Thursday to soliciting the murder of his former handyman, Joseph Gentz, who in turn is charged with killing Bahsara's wife.

A day later, Bashara's attorney David Griem admitted he committed civil contempt of court while working on Bashara's behalf.

Before 36th District Court Chief Judge Kenneth King Friday, Griem admitted that he disobeyed a court gag order by sharing evidence with Bashara's mother; and improperly issued a subpoena seeking Gentz's employment records before Bashara was charged with a crime, The Detroit Free Press reports (full story).

"He admitted responsibility for both petitions for contempt and
apologized," said Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for the Wayne County
Prosecutor's Office. Judge King "accepted it as civil contempt and set a
sentencing hearing."

Griem was initially accused of criminal contempt of court. He could now face sanctions when he returns to court Nov. 26.

The attorney has not returned MLive Detorit's requests for comment.

Bashara could face between almost 7 and 11 years in prison for his murder solicitation conviction related to the hit he admits to placing on Gentz.

In court Thursday, Bashara called his unsuccessful attempt to contract someone to kill Gentz foolish and regrettable.

During a July hearing, prosecutors said Bashara asked for a receipt from the man he thought he was hiring to kill Gentz.

Prosecutors
played tapes of Bashara meeting with an appliance store owner and
working on a deal to have Gentz killed in the Wayne County Jail. He
suggested ground up glass in sugar or salt as a possible way to kill
Gentz, according to the Detroit Free-Press.

The
store owner, Steve Tibaudo, wore a wire to record Bashara's comments.
Tibaudo agreed on tape to kill Gentz for $20,000, including a $2,000
down payment. Bashara asked for a receipt after paying the down payment,
Tibaudo said in court.

Gentz
is in jail awaiting trial for the strangulation death of Jane Bashara,
Bob Bashara's wife, whom police found in her SUV parked in a Detroit
alley on Jan. 24.